MADERA - Early Sunday evening officers from the Madera Police Department descended on the Marshall's Department Store near the Madera District Fairgrounds for reports of a man with a gun.

A concerned citizen contact the Madera Police after they saw a man in the store with a handgun tucked into the waistband of his pants. Police contacted the store's security, who was maintaining surveillance of the suspect and a group of individuals who were in the process of stealing items from the store.

Officers outside setup a perimeter around the store before making contact with the armed suspect who they later identified as Niko Cunningham. The weapon turned out to be a realistic pellet gun.

Cunningham was arrested for petty theft and conspiracy to commit theft. Anthony Atterberry was arrested for two misdemeanor warrants, providing a false name, and conspiracy to commit theft. Cunningham was released on bail by Monday morning. Atterberry remains in custody.